Electrical connector housing for circuit board assembly

Abstract

An electrical housing (12) for a circuit board assembly (14) comprises interfitting upper and lower housing members (16,18) along which the circuit board assembly is disposed when the housing members are fitted and secured together. One end of the housing members (16,18) has connector-receiving recesses (50,58) in which an electrical connector (88) on the circuit board assembly is disposed for positioning the circuit board assembly longitudinally relative to the housing members. Vertical positioning members (26,68) on the housing members are provided for vertically positioning the circuit board assembly within the housing members. Jack screw-positioning members (32,34,40;74,76,78) are provided by the housing members (16,18) for positioning jack screws (46) within the housing members (16,18) and maintaining the jack screws therein so that they are captured therein.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An electrical housing for a circuit board assembly having at least one electrical connector hereon, comprising: interfitting upper and lower housing members adapted to receive and support the circuit board assembly therewithin, the circuit board assembly being disposed therein prior to fitting and securing the housing members together;   one end of the housing members having connector-engaging portions for engaging the electrical connector on the circuit board assembly for positioning the circuit board assembly longitudinally relative to the housing members;   positioning members provided on the housing members and protecting from inside surfaces thereof spaced inwardly from said connector-engaging portions to define horizontal board-engaging surfaces for vertically positioning the circuit board assembly within the housing members; and   jack screw-positioning members provided by the housing members for positioning jack screws within the housing members and maintaining the jack screws in position therein so that the jack screws are operationally captured therein.   
     
     
       2. An electrical housing as claimed in claim 1, wherein said housing members have flanges along opposing edges that overlap when the housing members are interfitted and secured together. 
     
     
       3. An electrical housing as claimed in claim 1, wherein said connector-engaging portions comprise grooves for receiving a flange of the electrical connector. 
     
     
       4. An electrical housing as claimed in claim 1, wherein said positioning members comprise columnar mounting members extending inwardly from an inside surface of said lower housing member, and raised members located on an inside surface of said upper housing member opposite respective columnar mounting members between which the circuit board assembly is disposed. 
     
     
       5. An electrical housing as claimed in claim 4, wherein said columnar mounting members and said raised members form a ground connection with the circuit board assembly. 
     
     
       6. An electrical housing as claimed in claim 4, wherein said columnar mounting members extend above a plane containing the ends of the front, rear and side walls of said lower housing member. 
     
     
       7. An electrical housing as claimed in claim 1, wherein, said jack screw-positioning members comprise aligned arcuate recesses at outer edges of front and rear walls of said housing members in which shafts of the jack screws are disposed. 
     
     
       8. An electrical housing as claimed in claim 7, wherein opposing extensions are located on inside surfaces of said housing members and include further arcuate recesses aligned with the arcuate recesses in said front and rear walls, said further arcuate recesses receiving annular grooves of the shafts of the jack screws thereby capturing the jack screws with the housing members when they are secured together. 
     
     
       9. An electrical housing as claimed in claim 1, wherein another end of the housing members includes other connector-engaging portions for engaging another connector on the circuit board assembly. 
     
     
       10. An electrical housing for a circuit board assembly having at least one electrical connector thereon comprising interfitting upper and lower housing members adapted to receive and support the circuit board assembly therewithin, the circuit board assembly being disposed therein prior to fitting and securing the housing members together; one end of the housing members having connector-receiving recesses in which the electrical connector is disposed, and jack screws mounted in the housing members, characterized in that: first positioning members are provided on the housing members and projecting from inside surfaces thereof from said connector-engaging portions to define horizontal board-engaging surfaces for vertically positioning the circuit board assembly within the housing members upon assembly of the circuit board assembly between said upper and lower housing members,   second positioning members are provided by the housing members and the electrical connector for positioning the circuit board assembly longitudinally relative to the housing members, and   jack screw-positioning members are provided by the housing members for positioning the jack screws within the housing members and maintaining the jack screws in position therein so that the jack screws are operationally captured therein.